SINGAPORE - 7 December, 2018: The efficient movement of goods and people is vital to a highly urbanised city like Singapore. With the growth of e-commerce, a Locker Alliance will be a critical enabler in the last mile delivery process, as it can benefit cities, consumers and companies alike. In view of this, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) today launched a pilot for Singapore’s Federated Locker initiative in support of the growing demands of the digital economy.
The Locker Alliance pilot, part of the Logistics Industry Transformation Map led by EDB, will be implemented in Punggol and Bukit Panjang.
It aims to:
- Provide greater convenience to consumers to receive and return parcels as they will have access to lockers 24/7 and no longer need to wait for delivery;
- Enhance efficiency and environmental sustainability with aggregated deliveries to locker stations instead of the many individual homes, with fewer missed deliveries;
- Create an open and interoperable network for logistics service providers and e-commerce players to access a single network that is able to reach multiple locations.
The initiative is named as such as it brings together various industry players – such as locker operators, logistics service providers and e-marketplaces – onto a single interoperable platform.
Components of Locker Alliance:
The Locker Alliance brings together e-marketplaces, online merchants and logistics industry players using:
- A single open and interoperable platform developed by Parcel Perform that allows different locker operator networks to function collectively;
- A standardised data interchange (technical reference TR 61) to create a transparent, secure and consistent user experience across the delivery process;
- SingPost’s installation of 39 locker sites at Punggol town HDB blocks, and 4 sites at MRT stations: Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok and Hougang;
- blu’s installation of 23 locker sites at Bukit Panjang town HDB blocks, and 4 sites at MRT stations: Bukit Panjang, Chinese Garden, Lakeside and Boon Lay.
As a feature of the pilot initiative, lockers have been installed across more than 60 sites in Bukit Panjang and Punggol, and is expected to run for one year. The lockers are located within 250m of all HDB blocks in the two towns, and are accessible 24/7 to allow consumers to pick up their items at their convenience. Additional lockers installed by SingPost and blu at the various train stations (listed above), aim to further supplement the locker network within towns. Consumers can also return their purchases via the lockers in the HDB towns. IMDA will evaluate the viability of adding more sites in Singapore following the launch of the pilot initiative.
“Everyone who buys or sells something online will be familiar with the issue of last-mile delivery. Through the Locker Alliance programme, we want to make it more convenient for consumers to collect their items, while improving the efficiency and cost effectiveness of parcels delivery. Implemented island-wide, logistics service providers can potentially see a 50% reduction in distance travelled by drivers, and see a five-fold improvement in delivery efficiency1. This in turn will support the exponential growth in e-commerce locally and regionally,” said Mr Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive, IMDA.
Regional Locker Network
In addition, IMDA has signed a memorandum of intent (MOI) with regional locker operators Box24 (Thailand), Pakpobox (Hong Kong), Popbox Asia (Indonesia), to explore developing a regional locker network. The three-year period under the MOI will cover engagement of local stakeholders to drive adoption, working with other participating locker operators and stakeholders, adoption of the Technical Reference (TR61) developed by IMDA in collaboration with the industry, and contribution to the enhancement of the standards.
As these operators have locker infrastructure in Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau and Malaysia, the Locker Alliance model of interoperability aims to open up e-commerce opportunities for businesses and logistics players, and address cross-border last mile delivery.
1 Stanisław Iwan, Kinga Kijewska, Justyna Lemke - Analysis of parcel lockers’ efficiency as the last mile delivery solution – the results of the research in Poland
ISSUED BY THE INFOCOMM MEDIA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
About Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) leads Singapore’s digital transformation with infocomm media. To do this, IMDA will develop a dynamic digital economy and a cohesive digital society, driven by an exceptional infocomm media (ICM) ecosystem – by developing talent, strengthening business capabilities, and enhancing Singapore's ICM infrastructure. IMDA also regulates the telecommunications and media sectors to safeguard consumer interests while fostering a pro-business environment, and enhances Singapore’s data protection regime through the Personal Data Protection Commission.
For more news and information, visit www.imda.gov.sg or follow IMDA on Facebook IMDAsg and Twitter @IMDAsg.
For media clarifications, please contact:
KOH Christopher (Mr)
Senior Manager, Communications and Marketing, IMDA
DID: (65) 6211 1709
Email: Christopher_Koh@imda.gov.sg
.webp)